1. AMTAC-19, a Spiro-Acridine Compound, Induces In Vitro Antitumor Effect via the ROS-ERK/JNK Signaling Pathway.
- Author
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Sousa VM, Duarte SS, Ferreira RC, Sousa NF, Scotti MT, Scotti L, Silva MSD, Tavares JF, Moura RO, Gonçalves JCR, and Sobral MV
- Subjects
- Humans, HCT116 Cells, Acridines pharmacology, Acridines chemistry, Spiro Compounds pharmacology, Spiro Compounds chemistry, Molecular Docking Simulation, Colorectal Neoplasms drug therapy, Colorectal Neoplasms metabolism, Colorectal Neoplasms pathology, Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism, Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology, Antineoplastic Agents chemistry, MAP Kinase Signaling System drug effects
- Abstract
Colorectal cancer remains a significant cause of mortality worldwide. A spiro-acridine derivative, ( E )-1'-((4-bromobenzylidene)amino)-5'-oxo-1',5'-dihydro-10 H -spiro[acridine-9,2'-pyrrole]-4'-carbonitrile (AMTAC-19), showed significant cytotoxicity in HCT-116 colorectal carcinoma cells (half maximal inhibitory concentration, IC50 = 10.35 ± 1.66 µM) and antioxidant effects after 48 h of treatment. In this study, Molegro Virtual Docker v.6.0.1 software was used to investigate the interactions between AMTAC-19 and the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1 (ERK1), c-Jun N-terminal Kinase 1 (JNK1), and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase α (p38α MAPK). In vitro assays were conducted in HCT-116 cells to evaluate the effect of AMTAC-19 on the modulation of these proteins' activities using flow cytometry. Furthermore, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in the presence or absence of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK inhibitors was used to evaluate the involvement of these enzymes in AMTAC-19 cytotoxicity. ROS production was assessed using the 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay at various incubation times (30 min, 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h), and the MTT assay using N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) was performed. In silico results indicated that AMTAC-19 interacts with ERK1, JNK1, and p38α MAPK. Additionally, AMTAC-19 activated ERK1/2 and JNK1 in HCT-116 cells, and its cytotoxicity was significantly reduced in the presence of ERK1/2 and JNK inhibitors. AMTAC-19 also induced a significant increase in ROS production (30 min and 1 h), while NAC pretreatment reduced its cytotoxicity. These findings support AMTAC-19's in vitro antitumor effect through ROS-dependent activation of ERK and JNK pathways., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
- Published
- 2024
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